Foley defends record on DEIS schools

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Minister of Education Norma Foley visited local schools on Thursday last where she officially opened two new extensions at St Comán’s Wood Primary School and a new sensory and biodiversity garden at Cloverhill National School.

The Minister, who also visited CBS Roscommon and Convent of Mercy, where she opened a new multi-sensory room and outdoor recreation area, said she was pleased to meet teachers, students, and members of the wider school community.

Minister Foley opened two new extensions and was treated to a musical performance by talented students at St. Comán’s Wood before addressing staff, the student council, and local public representatives.

She later visited Cloverhill National School, where she unveiled a plaque and cut the ribbon on the school’s new sensory garden and public space.

Speaking to the media following the ceremonies, the Minister addressed concerns around the designa- tion of DEIS schools and highlighted an ‘historic’ teacher-pupil ratio low.

“I’m very conscious that the risk of education disadvantage is not limited to DEIS schools, and it’s for that reason we have introduced and continue to introduce a number of additional supports,” she said.

“For example, we now have the teacher pupil ratio at a historic low. We’re seeing all the additional resources coming into schools in terms of teachers who are principals being given a guaranteed administrative leave day. We are also seeing schools with more than two special education classes with administrative teaching principal allocations. We are looking at a lot of resources in terms of special education teaching.

“There’s a considerable amount of work done in the last two and a half years and certainly more work needed to be done”.

The Minister said that “tens of millions” of euro had been invested in schools across Roscommon, and also praised local educators.

“I want to acknowledge the great work that’s being done in schools in providing opportunity of equality for students irrespective of their ability or background.

All children get an opportunity in education and the Department is supporting that in terms of the tens of millions being invested,” she said.

“It’s quite a testament to the excellence in education that we see delivered here that we are now seeing schools growing and growing with extensions upon extensions and the improvement of facilities”.

On the provision of additional resources to schools in Roscommon, which have taken in refugees and students under International Protection, the Minister said her Department was working closely with the Department of Children.

She said that there were currently 14,000 Ukrainian students in the Irish education system and all were accommodated within existing school capacity.

“To support that, we have made additional staff available in terms of English as an additional language (ELT) teachers. We are also providing whatever supports that are needed,” she said.

“We are working closely with the Department of Children in the hope that they might be